Holder for flexible metal-sheathed wire cables, &amp;c.



J. P. HOLLOWAY.

HOLDER FOR FLEXIBLE METAL SHEATHED WIRE GABLES, 6m.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1912.

\ 1,()33,894, Pz mtented July 30,1912.

' of at the desired point, and

'ments in Holders afar/ins r. noLLowAY, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

HOLDER, FOR FLEXIBLE METAL-SHEATHED WIRE'CABLES, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1912.

Application filed March 9, 1912. Serial No. 682,691.

following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing,

This invention "relates to holders or retaining devices for flexible cables, wires or the like, and is particularly designed for use in connection with flexible metal sheathed insulated electric wiring or cables. Experience has demonstrated the fact that in installing or repairing electric cables of the character referred to, by reason of the flexibility thereof, it is difficultto hold the cable in a satisfactory and definite position to enable proper sawing or severance thereparticularly for the purpose of removing a portion of the metal sheathing at the terminal portions oft'heinsulated wiring to expose the latter. I It isto overcome this disadvantage, and to provide a device enabling. an accurate manipulation and treatment of the cable that has inspired the conception of the present invention.

The invention in its practical and preferred form comprises an attachment capable of ready fastening to a bench, ladder or other support and comprises a pair of properly separated, .oppositely disposed rigid fingers, arranged to provide an entrance opening for the cable at their outer or free ends and to provide oppositely disposed binding portions or edges adapted to engage and hold the cable when inserted therebetween to prevcnt'displacernent or movement of the latter, while the same is being cut or severed,- as desired.

More specifically, the arrangement of the fingers is such that diagonally opposite edges or portions thereof will impinge firmly against the cable when passed there-' between and when one end of the cable is deflected or bent around to force the same into binding engagement with the saidedges or portions, this same. arrangement acting on the metal sheathing to separate the turns or convolutions of the latter enabling severance of any one or more ofthem without .55, iiiunduly mar-ring or impairing those portions .remain =1ntact.

and in normal condition respecting the insulated wiring therewithin.

The details in the arrangement and construction of the several parts of the device will be apparent from the specific description hereinafter contained, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and'wherein the above referred to preferred embodiment-of the invention is illustrated. It will however, be apparent to those skilled in the art that although there is herein disclosed but the single embodiment of the invention referred' to, the invention is capable of embodiment in still other forms and devices.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the attachment showing the manner of using the same in connection with a metal sheathed flexible electric wire cable to 'which I have previously alluded, Fig. 2 is an end view of the attachment, Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof, and, Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the same.

Referring more specifically to the. drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding elements in the severa/l views, A represents any convenient or suitable support within access of the workman, as for example, the upper ledge of a stepladder, to which the attachment may be re-- movably secured.

The attachment comprises, preferably, an integral rigid metal construction having a body portion B having inwardly directed horizontal jparallel clamping arms C and D,

" properly separated and free at their inner edges. to provide the space E! to accommodate the supporting ledge A, these arms being adapted 'to be clamped to the ledge through the medium of a thumb screw F having threaded engagement, as atc, with the arm D and passing therethrough to impinge upon the bottom of the ledge A, clearly indicated in Fig. 4. In the plane of the body B and projecting upwardly therefrom is a pair of oppositely disposed outwardly bowed fingers G, the upper ends thereof approaching each other somewhat to afford a relatively contracted throat H, from which throat said ends flare outwardly or diverge to provide amouth or entrance opening J. The pur ose ,ofthis special for-- mationis to provide etween thefingers G a relatively enlarged .space hav ng overlhanging portions. or; walls convolutions.

margin of the space 70 is conveniently flush with the upper surface 0 of theclamping arm C, and the fingers, while possessing great rigidity and strength, are relatively thin, as shown, to leave unobstructed working space adjoining the opposite surfaces of the fingers for manipulation of the flexible cable to permit of the insertion of a saw, file or other severing implementdiagonally through the space intermediate of the fin gers.

In use, the flexible metal sheathed cable is inserted at the month J, through the throat H into the space K within the fingers and permitted to rest on the base constituted by the surfaces is and a. A bending or detlection of one end of the cable (note Fig. 1) causes the intermediate portions of the cable to assume a diagonal position between the fingers and .to.be firmly bound in this position at the opposite correspondingly diagonally related biting corners or edges M, formed, as shown in Fig. 3, by the grooved or hollow formation of the inner surfaces of the fingers, which latter may be provided with teeth, grooved, or otherwise roughened, as at m, to better prevent slipping of the cable, the overhanging portions or Walls L serving to prevent the cable riding, upwardly or escaping from the fingers. The grooved formation of the fingers enables theentrance of the sharp edges thereof between the metal This bending of the cable has it tendency to distort or separate the turns or convolutions of the metal sheathing to permit severance of any one or more of them withoutimpairing the remainder. It will be apparent that the severance of the convolutions will permit of their being uncoiled to expose the interior insulated wiring, or the cable may be but entirely through, as desired, the clamping arm in the latter instance affording proper protection for the Wooden ledge A from the saw teeth or cutting implement, and the arrangement of the two surfaces is and c in flush relation as defined, permitting the cable to lie flat and obviating the presentation of any unevenness or projecting parts to catch the saw teeth and injure the same which. might be incident to these surfaces being'out of register or not coincident.

I claim 1. A holder for flexible nietal sheathed cables comprising means for fastening the same in place, and a pair of rigid fingers carried by said means having diagonally re lated binding ed es formed by hollow inner sin-facts of the fingers, substantially as described.

A holder for flexible met-a1 sheathed cables and the like comprising a pair of rigid fingers separated to provide an opening therebetween and having oppositely disposed binding edges, and means f01 SC111- ing the fingers to a supportincludlng an arm carrying the fingers offset with reference to the latter to project inwardly therefrom, the base of the opening between the fingers and the upper surface of said arm being approximately in the same plane to enable the supporting of that portion of the cable laterally of the arms substantially in.

registration with said opening.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JAMES P.-'HOLLO\VAY. lVitnesses G. A. MARVIN, G120. D. RILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

